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Scroll horizontally the chart by launch year and click on the info-boxes to find more about the related satellites.

SATELLITE STATUS:
 Operational     Non-operational     Unknown     Decayed


DISTANCE FROM EARTH HEO GEO MEO LEO 200 km 400 km 600 km 800 km 1,000 km 1,000 km 2,000 km 4,000 km 6,000 km 8,000 km 10,000 km 10,000 km 20,000 km 40,000 km 35,785 km 60,000 km 80,000 km 100,000 km 100,000 km 200,000 km 400,000 km 600,000 km Unknown
2021 2022 2020 2018 2016 2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 1988 1986 1984 1982 1980 1978 1976 1974 1972 1970 1968 1966 1964 1962 1960 1958 2015 2017 2019 2011 2013 2005 2001 2003 2007 2009 1995 1997 1999 1991 1993 1985 1987 1989 1981 1983 1975 1971 1973 1977 1979 1965 1967 1969 1957 1959 1961 1963 2021 2022 2020 2018 2016 2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 1988 1986 1984 1982 1980 1978 1976 1974 1972 1970 1968 1966 1964 1962 1960 1958 2015 2017 2019 2011 2013 2005 2001 2003 2007 2009 1995 1997 1999 1991 1993 1985 1987 1989 1981 1983 1975 1971 1973 1977 1979 1965 1967 1969 1957 1959 1961 1963 2021 2022 2020 2018 2016 2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 1988 1986 1984 1982 1980 1978 1976 1974 1972 1970 1968 1966 1964 1962 1960 1958 2015 2017 2019 2011 2013 2005 2001 2003 2007 2009 1995 1997 1999 1991 1993 1985 1987 1989 1981 1983 1975 1971 1973 1977 1979 1965 1967 1969 1957 1959 1961 1963 2021 2022 2020 2018 2016 2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 1988 1986 1984 1982 1980 1978 1976 1974 1972 1970 1968 1966 1964 1962 1960 1958 2015 2017 2019 2011 2013 2005 2001 2003 2007 2009 1995 1997 1999 1991 1993 1985 1987 1989 1981 1983 1975 1971 1973 1977 1979 1965 1967 1969 1957 1959 1961 1963 LAUNCH YEAR (05 Sep 1977 - ) Voyager 1 was a NASA space probe with the goal of analysing the outer Solar System and interstellar space beyond the Sun's heliosphere. 45 years later, it still communicates with the Deep Space Network to receive routine commands and transmit data to Earth. It carries onboard the Voyager Golden Records. VOYAGER 1 S (21 Dec 1964 - 11 Jan 1965) OPS 3762, also known as FTV-2355, was an American reconnaissance satellite launched in 1964. Its mission was to demonstrate radar imaging techniques for future missions. OPS was the initial designation for US military satellites, then replaced with the USA. OPS 3762 M (08 Apr 1964 - 12 Apr 1964) Gemini 1 was the first mission in NASA's Gemini program. It consisted of an uncrewed test flight to test the structural integrity of the new spacecraft and launch vehicle and the bespoke tracking and communication systems. GEMINI 1 S (19 Dec 1978 - ) Gorizont is a series of 35 Russian geosynchronous communications satellites launched between 1978 and 2000. The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic initiated the program to develop a satellite system to relay coverage of the 1980 Olympic Games from Moscow. GORIZONT 1 C (16 Oct 1975 - ) GOES-1 was a weather satellite developed by the NASA and operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was the first Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to be launched. GOES 1 W (10 Dec 1974 - ) Helios-A and Helios-B (after launch renamed Helios 1 and Helios 2) are a pair of probes that were launched into heliocentric orbit to study solar processes. Developed as a joint venture of West Germany's space agency and NASA. HELIOS 1 S (1 Dec 1989 - 25 May 1999 ) The International Astrophysical Observatory "GRANAT" was a Soviet space observatory dedicated X-ray/gamma ray astronomy, developed in collaboration with France, Denmark and Bulgaria. GRANAT S (04 Apr 1983 - ) TDRS-1 was operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System for space communication to support manned flight missions. The TDRS constellation is now composed of 13 satellites. TDRS 1 C (03 Apr 1996 - ) Inmarsat is a British satellite telecommunications company offering global mobile services. In March 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Analysis by Inmarsat determined that the aircraft flew into the southern Indian Ocean and was used to guide the search for it. INMARSAT 3-F1 C (30 Oct 2000 - ) The BD 1 satellites were the first phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system with geostationary satellites. The basic constellation requires three satellites. BEIDOU 1 N (18 Mar 2001 - ) American XM 1 and XM 2 satellites (nicknamed "Rock" and "Roll") were designed to provide digital audio radio programming to cars, homes, and portable radios. They later suffered from a generic failure: XM 1 was retired and moved into a graveyard orbit above the geostationary belt. XM-1 ROLL C (9 Jun 2001 - ) IS-901 was the first of nine new Intelsat satellites launched in June 2001. A few years later ran out of fuel and retired to the satellite graveyard. In February, it was brought back into geostationary orbit, from where it now serves over 30 customers. INTELSAT 901 C (21 Dec 2015 - ) EUMETSAT operates the Meteosat weather satellites. Meteosat-9 now delivers images every five minutes over Europe only and detects rapidly developing high-impact weather. METEOSAT 9 W (19 Oct 2008 - ) Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is a small explorer NASA mission to map the boundary of the solar system. It has "telescopes" that look out toward the edge of the solar system. IBEX O (11 Sep 2010 - ) The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) is developed by the Japanese government to enhance the United States-operated GPS satellites in the Asia-Oceania regions. The total number of satellites will be 7. QZS-1 N (01 Jul 2013 - ) The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the complete control of the Indian government. The constellation consists of 8 satellites. IRNSS 1A N (22 Feb 1978 - ) OPS 5111, also known as Navstar 1, NDS-1, GPS I-1 and GPS SVN-1, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1978 as part of the Global Positioning System development program. It was the first GPS satellite to be launched. NAVSTAR 1 N (12 Oct 1982 - ) Cosmos 1413, the first GLONASS satellite of the Russian fleet of the GLONASS radio-based satellite navigation system. The satellites' designs have undergone several upgrades: by 2010, GLONASS had achieved full coverage of Russia's territory. GLONASS N (11 Dec 1970 - ) NOAA-1 was a weather satellite operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was the first polar- orbiting environmental satellite (POES) for long- term forecasting. The satellites carry search and rescue instruments and have helped save the lives of about 10,000 people to date. NOAA 1 W (21 Dec 2005 - ) The Strela 3M (or COSMOS 2416) belongs to a constellation of Russian communications satellites operating in low Earth orbit. The satellites can transmit encrypted messages and images: they remember the received messages and then resend them after a scheduled time or by a command from the Earth. STRELA 3M-1 C (27 Feb 2019 - ) The OneWeb satellite constellation is a planned initial 648-satellite constellation intending to provide global satellite Internet broadband services to people everywhere. OneWeb's first six satellites were launched in February 2019: the constellation is in the process of being completed. ONEWEB-0006 C (17 Mar 1958 - ) Vanguard 1 is an American satellite designed to test launch capabilities and the effects of the space environment on a satellite. Although communications with the satellite got lost in 1964, it remains the oldest human-made object still in orbit, together with the upper stage of its launch vehicle VANGUARD 1 S (10 Jul 1962 - ) Telstar 1 was a NASA satellite that allowed the first live broadcast of television images between the US and Europe. It remained active for only seven months before it prematurely failed due to Starfish Prime, a high- altitude nuclear test conducted by the United States. Although it no longer works, it is still in Earth's orbit. TELSTAR 1 C (09 May 1963 - ) The DASH (Density And Scale Height) satellites were 2.5-m-diameter balloons used to measure air densities at altitudes of 3500 km. The satellite was part of the Project West Ford, a test carried out in 1961 and 1963 to create an artificial ionosphere above the Earth to improve US military communications. DASH 1 O (25 Apr 1966 - 11 Jun 1973) The Molniya series was a military communications satellite system used by the Soviet Union suited for communications purposes in polar regions. The Molniya 1 took the first images of the whole Earth in history. MOLNIYA 1-3 M (04 May 1976 - ) LAGEOS (Laser Geodynamics Satellite) is a series of two scientific research satellites designed to provide accurate measurements of the satellite's position to Earth, the planet's shape (geoid), and its tectonic plate movements associated with continental drift. LAGEOS 1 E (04 Oct 1957-03 Jan 1958) Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union. It orbited for three weeks before its batteries ran out and fell back into the atmosphere a few months later. SPUTNIK 1 S (15 Nov 1961 - ) The Transit Research And Attitude Control (TRAAC) satellite was launched by the US Navy. It was used to test the feasibility of using the Earth's gravitational attraction to orient and stabilize a vehicle in space. TRAAC played a key role in monitoring the Starfish Prime space-based nuclear test. TRAAC M (21 Jan 1981 - ) Cosmos 1241 was a Soviet satellite launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome aboard a Kosmos rocket. It has been used as an ASAT (anti-satellite) target for the Cosmos 1243 and 1258 interceptors. COSMOS 1241 M (14 Nov 1986 - ) Polar Bear (Polar Beacon and Research) was a military mission designed to study communications interference caused by solar flares and increased auroral activity. POLAR BEAR O (31 May 1967 - ) The Calsphere (Calibration Sphere) satellites were passive spherical surveillance calibration targets built by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). SURCAL 159 O (15 May 1967 - ) Cosmos 158 was the first prototype of the Soviet navigation satellite Tsiklon (meaning cyclone). The system is now operated by the Russian Space Forces. COSMOS 158 M (18 Oct 1989 - 21 Sep 2003) Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that went live in 2016, created by the European Space Agency (ESA). Although similar in design to the American GPS system and the Russian GLONASS navigation network, Galileo will be controlled by strictly civilian organizations. GALILEO ORBITER N (10 May 1999 - ) FY is the first generation of Chinese polar- orbiting meteorological satellites, consisting of four satellites. The intentional destruction of FY-1C created 2,841 high-velocity debris items, more than any other space mission in history. FENGYUN 1C W (26 Jun 2013 - ) O3B is a satellite constellation designed to provide low-latency broadband connectivity to remote locations. O3B originally stood for "other three billion", or the other three billion people at the time that did not have stable internet access. O3B PFM C (30 Jun 2003 - ) The CanX-1 is a CubeSat, a miniaturized satellite for space research, composed of multiple cubic modules 10 cm per side. Constructed by the University of Toronto, its goal was to test low-cost and low-power space technologies. Some CubeSats have become countries' first-ever satellites launched by universities, state-owned, or private companies. CANX-1 O (13 Apr 1960 - 05 Oct 1967) Navy Transit 1B was the first experimental orbital navigation satellite. Transit spacecraft were developed for updating the inertial navigation systems on board US Navy Polaris submarines and later for civilian use. Transit used a constellation of five satellites and could provide a navigational fix approximately once per hour. TRANSIT 1B N

Research, design, and code by Cinzia Bongino

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